Urn on square base (one of a pair)
Unknown
ca. 1770–80 · Egyptian Imperial porphyry; gilt bronze · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
This pair of early Neo-Classical urns is likely to have been produced around 1770 and 1780. The later, possibly early 19th century base, is also made of Egyptian porphyry, but of a deeper purple color with white rather than pink speckles, which is akin the chocolaty porphyries quarried in Sweden. The calm austerity of these ‘Etruscan’ was much sought after in the second half of the eighteenth century.
- Artist
- Unknown
- Date
- ca. 1770–80
- Medium
- Egyptian Imperial porphyry; gilt bronze
- Culture
- possibly Italian
- Department
- European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
- Credit line
- Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019
